I hear you Destee.. you know we're just talking.. and as an Artist, I think the most respectful thing you can do is not "support" an Artists art.. but "Respond" to an artists art.. and that's all we're doing is responding to the message.. and thats a positive thing.. it means that the Art was artful enough to be delivered without calling any negative attention to the Art form itself.. When a song is sung perfectly, the message of the song shines through clearly.. but when that same song is sung with technical mistakes the message of the song is impacted by the interruptions caused by the mistakes.. this Poet's delivery is beautiful.. her charisma is perfectly matched with the content.. and I would love to hear more of her work.

You're right Brother Skuder ... we're all entitled to our opinions, sharing them, everything. I guess because this is poetry, i reverted back to our poetry policy, which does not allow for negative critiques (generally). I kinda just automatically went there inside myself, and posted that sentiment ... but this isn't the poetry forum, so that mindset does not and should not apply here. I have this very protective sense regarding the poets and poetry here, but the years are proving that this is very hard to maintain out here on the net. Folk are gonna have opinions, good and bad, and those putting their self, work, etc., on the table have to be ready for it all. I'm sure this Sister can handle (and welcomes) all commentary, should she run across it. Love You and thanks for sharing!

hey.. I know a thing or two about poetry also.. disdain in poetic form is still disdain. The idea that expressing things through an art form somehow makes the thing expressed more acceptable is just wrong (IMO).. Art is about expression and the expression expressed, when it's felt.. should be answered. My answer to what she expressed through her Art is what I wrote down below.. If I get up on stage and recite a poem about how much I hate black people, the fact that it is a poem does not cleanse the message.. and, to keep it 100, all fiction is based in reality.. because reality is all that we know.. the creative mind may abstract reality to come up with what it comes up with but the base of it all is the real life lived.. trust me.. her "Nigg-a I hate you" is based in her own life.. and it shouldn't get a free pass because it's delivered in poetic form.. And the same goes for Hip Hop.. for Movies.. for every form of Art..

Brother Skuder ... i understand what you're saying, but it's poetry ... and from what i've learned about poetry is that you can't make hard determinations about it ... it's an art ... one that is not always meant to be taken literally. Oftentimes, the poet has never experienced the things they write, they could be sharing a dream, a nightmare, a picture in their mind, or something totally different from what each reader / viewer perceives ... it is that very art of poetry, that propels it beyond such critique as you're giving ... though i understand the desire to give it. In fact, this reminds me of a poem i wrote years ago, as a result of learning this very lesson from the many poets that have shared with me over the years ... it's called ... Between The Lines ... http://destee.com/index.php?threads/between-the-lines.6/ ... Love You! :)

I hear you Destee... but there's nothing in it that indicates that she learned anything at all.. she has boiled it down to him just being "no good".. she hasn't at all called her own disposition into question.. she's just unleashing the "no good blackman" speech that so many black women seem to be waiting to let loose.. and the joy and enthusiasm that she puts behind it speaks to the dysfunction of the kinds of relationships that she and many many black folks have with one another.. and you know I believe context is everything.. and having a dope delivery is one thing.. but what that delivery is delivering is THE thing.. I'll never stand back and admire the long beautiful stride of a runner running to decapitate my best friend.. I'll would instead launch my whole self into protecting my friend.. same same.

Yeah Brother Skuder ... we all have those life lessons to learn, but her presentation is off the chain! I am so very impressed with those that are willing to put themselves out front, on the world stage, opening themselves up to the critique of those not willing to do the same ... and then to do it so artisticly ... i'm impressed with this young lady ... and from the way it sounds ... she's learned her lesson (and may be able to keep a few others from having to learn the same, the hard way)!